For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:15-16 ESV)
It does not matter if you are circumcised or not, circumcision will only help you to make a good showing in the flesh but will never help you keep the law. Only grace operative in your life through the Cross of Christ brings a new creation.
Every time you plant a seed in the ground, a new creation is apparent in nature. It is not the covering of the seed that determines if it becomes a great tree or a small flower; it is what is on the inside. What we become in Christ is similar; it is not about how good we try to look on the outside as Christians but about letting the Holy Spirit transform our hearts. It starts at the Cross as Paul says, “the world has been crucified to me and I to the world” (Galatians 16:4b ESV).
At the Cross, we died with Christ and have risen to new life, a new creation. Baptism is its symbol. Positionally, it is as Paul said: The world is dead to us and we to the world. Practically, the old man or flesh dies hard, sometimes kicking and screaming. Sanctification is a process. We were delivered at the Cross from the penalty of sin; now, we are being delivered from the power of sin, and one day, we will be delivered from the presence of sin.
The problem is that we like to feed the flesh, and I don’t mean the literal flesh. Paul said, “For even those who are circumcised do not keep the law ‘(Galatians 6:13a ESV). An outward symbol of change without an inward manifestation is devoid of meaning. They desired to be circumcised because they wanted to boast in the flesh. If you start discussing your salvation with I, you have started at the wrong place. It always begins with Him. We can only boast in Christ.
If we walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh, peace and mercy shall reign in our hearts.
Image used by permission from Microsoft.
Ken Barnes, the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing and Broken Vessels through Kindle Direct Publishing.
Ken’s Website— https://kenbarnes.us/
Ken blogs at https://kenbarnes.us/blog/
Email- [email protected]
